Nelson Jules Castonguay

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Nelson Jules Castonguay served as Chief
Electoral Officer from 1949 to 1966, overseeing several significant
advances in electoral law and administration. In 1955, an amendment
to the Canada Elections Act removed discrimination on the basis of religion from electoral law. In that year voting by postal ballot
became available to spouses of military personnel posted abroad.

In 1951, special arrangements were made for people
in sanatoriums and chronic care hospitals to vote, and by 1960 these
arrangements were extended to homes for seniors.

In 1960, the Diefenbaker government extended the
vote to all "registered Indians." Also that year, the right
to vote in advance polls was made available to everyone who would be
away from home on election day, not just those in certain occupations
specified in the Act.